Thanksgiving proclamation by Lincoln

I came across this an thought I'd share it. It's the Presidential proclamation by Abraham Lincoln that established Thanksgiving as a Federal holiday in 1863, in the midst of the Civil War. It's an appeal to give thanks to Almighty God for the blessings the nation enjoys and to pray to Him to "heal the wounds of the nation". It's sad to think about how this kind of language couldn't be used by a president nowadays, or even a local public school, given our current misunderstandings of the "separation of church and state".

You might want to remind people of this appeal by President Lincoln to pray to God Most High when they speak of Thanksgiving Day as "Turkey Day".

You might want to read it aloud before sitting down to dinner with friends and family.

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Proclamation of Thanksgiving*
Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863


The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln


*Source: The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, edited by Roy P. Basler.

Leisurely Saturday

I woke up early this morning (early for a Saturday) at 7:45 am. I just couldn't stay in bed any longer. My back hurt and I just wasn't sleepy. So I grabbed a load of laundry from the hamper and sauntered down to the basement to put the wash in. I then went to the kitchen and made a delicious pot of oatmeal.

I have started flavoring it with Ovaltine, ground cinnamon, chopped walnuts and a tad bit of sugar. I make it with all milk and lots of it. I like to drink it. Shane likes it all thick. I just don't like it thick and dry, bleh! I learned to like it runny when I was in high school. Always running late I'd put it in a tall cup with lots of milk so that it was easy to consume on the way to school. So, ever since then I just prefer it that way. Anyhow, since Shane doesn't like it runny I have to make it thick first then add the extra milk to my bowl/cup.

So, I ate my oatmeal and then took some time to write thank you cards to a couple of my friends. For my birthday last week they were sweet to have a lunch gathering in my honor. (It has become a tradition for our circle of friends. We gather at someone's house and have a potluck.) They made posole. It was a great feast with all the trimmings. :)

So, after writing my cards I settled on clearing up some junk mail. Then my sleeping handsome came downstairs to have breakfast. At that time my brother, in Albuquerque, NM, called. He is a truck driver and works nights. Sometimes he calls me because he knows I am up. He was still working so we chatted for a while.

Since then, Shane and I have literally lounged our Saturday away. It is so cold out, 45 degrees! I've read some of my pregnancy magazines, I've napped. I had guacamole for lunch. (Yes, I can make a whole avocado with tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, garlic salt and eat it all by myself. I love that stuff!) Another craving I've had all week is Cap'n Crunch. I have managed to skip today, but I did eat some frozen Marie Calender's chocolate, caramel, pecan pie! With a glass of milk. Of course I had the pie only after I had eaten some lentil/chicken/curry soup with brown rice. (Gotta have some balance, yeah?)

More lounging and stuff (like finish folding the clothes, looked through baby names books and such). Now Shane's on the phone with his mom and I am taking the time to write about how nice it is to be home with my hubby and just lounging. We gotta really enjoy this time before the baby comes! I love it.

At some point we'll go out to dinner an to a party we were invited to.

The countdown begins

We are halfway there. "There" meaning our due date. Today was day 141, so 139 days to go. Unbelievable! This week we get to do another ultrasound, this time in "4D". (Kinda creepy!)

The baby has started moving quite a bit. I feel better and am eating way more than before. My appetite seams insatiable. I can feel full, but still desire to keep eating. Food tastes great! Crazy.

Thankfully I didn't gain too much weight in the first trimester. Now, it's a matter of getting some exercise. I have started attending a water aerobics class ( with lots of older ladies). There is another pregnant woman there that is due in 2 weeks. She is huge! She says its the best thing she's enjoyed while pregnant. I hope I will love it as much as I get bigger.

This week I will attend my first La Leche League meeting. We'll see how that goes. I look forward to meeting other mommies!
The goal for this week is to sign up for childbirth classes, and other related classes (infant CPR, baby basics...).

The thing we must do, and are not particularly excited about doing, is buying a new car. New or used? Sedan, SUV, crossover? Apparently, the hospital will not release your baby unless you drive home in a car with an appropriate car seat, in the back. Our truck will not cut it. I guess it's been a long time overdue to get a family car. Any suggestions?